[SatNews] Thomson Video Networks has announced that satellite operator Eutelsat is launching an Ultra High Definition (UHD) demonstration channel for Southeast Asia and Australia, based on the award-winning ViBE™ VS7000 multi-screen video system and Sapphire MPEG stream server.

The Eutelsat 3B satellite during its build process.

Broadcast via Eutelsat's year-old EUTELSAT 70B satellite, the demo channel will leverage the advanced high-efficiency video coding (HEVC) capabilities of the Thomson Video Networks solutions to provide a rich UHDTV picture at up to 50 frames per second (FPS) and in 10-bit color.

"The ViBE VS7000 system and Sapphire stream server combine to create a very simple and affordable platform for broadcasting a UHD channel — as well as an ideal opportunity to demonstrate the full power of HEVC encoding for delivering pristine UHD picture quality with maximum bandwidth savings," said Michel Chabrol, Director Marketing Innovation and Digital Cinema at Eutelsat. "With this new initiative, we're looking forward to demonstrating the latest developments in UHDTV, and just how cost-effective and bandwidth-efficient it can be for broadcasters."

With its ability to create HEVC content at any frame rate and any resolution up to UHD with superb video quality, the ViBE VS7000 will provide file transcoding for the Eutelsat demo channel. Thomson Video Networks' Sapphire channel-in-a-box broadcast server will streamline playout by creating playlists of HEVC clips and scheduling the broadcasts. The 4K channel will broadcast an array of documentary, cultural, and sports content created by TV channels, production companies, and Eutelsat itself to demonstrate the stunning viewing experience UHD affords.

"As a long-term Thomson Video Networks partner, Eutelsat is expanding its footprint in the vital and booming Asian broadcast marketplace, and blazing a trail for the next generation of television," said Tony Berthaud, vice president, Asia-Pacific sales, Thomson Video Networks. "By applying our advanced HEVC technology to demonstrate the feasibility of UHDTV in Asia, Eutelsat is setting the scene for this new format worldwide."